FERMANAGH and Omagh District Council buildings were lit up in blue to launch this year’s Volunteers’s Week recently.

The week-long campaign that takes place annually each June across Northern Ireland to recognise the contribution that is made by volunteers, and to shine a light on those who give so freely of their time and to say a big thank-you.

The B-Friend Hub Fermanagh, a project funded by the National Lottery Community Fund and managed by Omagh Volunteer Centre, has been working tirelessly to support the dedicated team of volunteers in the Fermanagh area to deliver the service during the past year.

Volunteers are making calls daily to more than 80 older people, and have not only been their lifeline throughout the pandemic, but for many people the volunteers have been their regular voice during a very lonely and uncertain time.

“The volunteers have gone above and beyond what is expected of them and what I am sure they signed up for,” said Rita O’Loughlin, B-Friend Hub Coordinator for the area.

“Little did we think we would be having a second Volunteers's Week in lockdown, but this didn’t discourage us from finding a way to say thanks and celebrate the kindness, dedication and commitment of our wonderful volunteers!".

Giftbags and certificates were doorstop-delivered to each volunteer by Rita and her new jobshare coordinator, Sheila Mc Carney.

Rita said: "This is a small token of our appreciation and recognition of the free time the volunteers dedicate to the project. We hope that next year we can all come together to celebrate.”

For further information on the project, or to find out about volunteering with the B-Friend Hub Fermanagh, email rita@thebefriendhub.org.